THE Ukrainian government has been accused of ordering a cull of stray animals before next year's UEFA European Football Championship.

Investigators from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said the government was pressing ahead with a cull despite promising not to and that dogs and cats were being poisoned and burned in mobile incinerators. "In an apparent effort to present the world with a glamorous image of its country during the tournament, thousands of animals are being slaughtered by order of the authorities," said Mimi Bekhechi, a PETA manager.